Spill containment system

Abstract

The containment system provides a simple but automatic closure device that requires minimum and low cost maintenance. Storm water can pass through the drains and does not require manual pumping like the prior art systems. Small mounts of contaminants will be absorbed as the water passes through the drain ensuring the storm water leaving the containment area is free of contaminants. Hydrophobic swellable polymer particles are located in the drain to seal the drain in the event that organic liquids such as oil, gasoline, etc. flow into the drain.

We claim: 
     
       1. A drain, comprising; a housing having first and second ends with an opening formed therethrough,   said first end of said housing forming an inlet to said drain and said second end of said housing forming an outlet of said drain,   said housing comprises a cylindrical member having threads at said first and second ends,   a cap comprising a cylindrical member having threads adapted to be screwed to said threads at said first end of said housing for removably coupling said cap to said first end of said housing,   said cap having an opening formed therethrough,   a first member having openings extending therethrough secured across said opening of said cap on the inside of said cap,   a second member having openings extending therethrough secured across said opening of said housing at said second end of said housing,   a first layer of material porous to water located on the inside of said first member,   a second layer of material porous to water located on the inside of said second member,   hydrophobic swellable polymer particles located in said opening of said housing between said first and second layers of material porous to water,   said hydrophobic swellable polymer particles being characterized in that said particles swell upon reaction with organic liquids to block liquid flow through said drain upon contact with organic liquids,   said drain being located in the ground in a generally horizontal position with said first end of said housing and said cap being located in a first zone to be drained of water and a sleeve coupled to said threads of said second end of said housing and extending to a second zone for receiving water from said first zone.   
     
     
       2. The drain of claim 1, wherein: said first and second layers of material porous to water comprise geotextile material.   
     
     
       3. The drain of claim 1, wherein: said housing has a given length between said first and second ends with said opening of said housing having about the same cross-sectional size along said given length of said housing.   
     
     
       4. The drain of claim 1, wherein: said particles have a size of between 300 and 500 microns.   
     
     
       5. The drain of claim 4, wherein: said hydrophobic swellable polymer particles are located between said first and second layers of material.   
     
     
       6. The drain of claim 5, wherein: said housing comprises side wall structure which completely surrounds said opening.   
     
     
       7. The drain of claim 1, wherein: said hydrophobic swellable polymer particles are located between said first and second layers of material.   
     
     
       8. The drain of claim 1, wherein: said housing comprises side wall structure which completely surrounds said opening.   
     
     
       9. A drain located in a generally horizontal position, comprising; a cylindrical housing having first and second ends with an opening formed therethrough,   said first end of said housing forming an inlet to said drain and said second end of said housing forming an outlet of said drain,   threads formed on said second end of said housing,   said first end of said housing being located in a first zone to be drained of water,   a sleeve having threads screwed to said threads of said housing for receiving water from said first zone only by way of said housing for providing a water passage to a second zone,   a first member having openings extending therethrough coupled across said first end of said housing,   a second member having openings extending therethrough coupled across said second end of said housing,   a first layer of material porous to water located on the inside of said first member,   a second layer of material porous to water located on the inside of said second member,   hydrophobic swellable polymer particles located in said opening of said housing between said first and second layers of material porous to water,   said hydrophobic swellable polymer particles being characterized in that said particles swell upon reaction with organic liquids to block liquid flow through said housing upon contact with organic liquids.   
     
     
       10. The drain of claim 9, comprising: a cap removably secured to said first end of said housing,   said cap having an opening formed therethrough,   said first member being secured across said opening of said cap.   
     
     
       11. A drain, comprising: a cylindrical housing having first and second ends with an opening formed therethrough,   threads formed at one of said ends of said housing,   a sleeve having threads screwed to said threads at said one end of said housing,   said sleeve and said housing being located to provide a passage for water from a first zone to a second zone,   a first member having openings extending therethrough coupled across said first end of said housing,   a second member having openings extending therethrough coupled across said second end of said housing,   a first layer of material porous to water located on the inside of said first member,   a second layer of material porous to water located on the inside of said second member,   hydrophobic swellable polymer particles located in said opening of said housing between said first and second layers of material porous to water,   said hydrophobic swellable polymer particles being characterized in that said particles swell upon reaction with organic liquids to block liquid flow through said housing upon contact with organic liquids.   
     
     
       12. The drain of claim 11, comprising: a cap removably secured to the other of said ends of said housing,   said cap having an opening formed therethrough,   one of said members being secured across said opening of said cap.   
     
     
       13. The drain of claim 11, wherein: said sleeve and said housing are located in a generally horizontal position.   
     
     
       14. The drain of claim 13, wherein: at least said sleeve is located in a position such that solid material surrounds the exterior of said sleeve.   
     
     
       15. The drain of claim 13, wherein: at least said housing is located in a position such that solid material surrounds the exterior of said housing.   
     
     
       16. The drain of claim 11, wherein: at least said sleeve is located in a position such that solid material surrounds the exterior of said sleeve.   
     
     
       17. The drain of claim 11, wherein: at least said housing is located in a position such that solid material surrounds the exterior of said housing.   
     
     
       18. A drain located in a generally horizontal position, comprising: a housing having an opening formed therethrough between first and second ends,   a cap removably secured to one of said ends of said housing,   said cap having an opening formed therethrough,   a first member having openings extending therethrough secured across said opening of said cap on the inside of said cap,   a second member having openings extending therethrough secured across said opening of said housing at the other of said ends of said housing,   a first layer of material porous to water located on the inside of said first member,   a second layer of material porous to water located on the inside of said second member,   hydrophobic swellable polymer particles located in said opening of said housing between said first and second layers of material porous to water,   said hydrophobic swellable polymer particles being characterized in that said particles swell upon reaction with organic liquids to block liquid flow through said drain upon contact with organic liquids,   said housing being located in a generally horizontal position such that solid material surrounds the exterior of said housing with said housing providing a flow path for water from a first zone to a second zone.